Nedumbassery: Even as the civil aviation industry is experiencing a downturn globally, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has registered a steep increase in the movement of passengers, thanks to a surge in the number of domestic tourists visiting the State.

The statistics available with CIAL suggests that though the total number of passengers using the airport grew only by 9 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal, it has jumped to over 13 per cent in the three months starting October 2009. CIAL had projected a growth rate of 10 per cent in its annual passenger movement at the start of the financial year.

According to CIAL Managing Director C.G. Krishnadas Nair, the number of domestic travellers moving through the airport had moved up from 4,000-5,000 persons per day to 6,000-7,000 persons with the onset of the tourism season in the State.

Given this sudden surge in the number of domestic passengers visiting the State and a steady growth in international sector, the company has now upgraded the expected number of passengers through here as 40 lakh a year.

During the last financial year, the international segment posted a growth of 13.52 per cent but the domestic sector faced a negative trend as both the aircraft and the passenger movement registered a marginal decline.

Mr. Nair said that CIAL plans to tap the large inflow of tourists to the State by promoting Kochi as the gateway to the ‘God’s Own Country’ by starting an exclusive tour division to coordinate between the tourists and the tour operators. This would enable the company to charge a commission apart from ensuring business for the tour agents without spending much on advertisement and other related expenses, he said.

Mr. Nair said CIAL would start a medium size trade fair and exhibition centre apart from opening more retail shops at the airport to tap the expected growth in traffic to Kochi. He said the airport company would conduct a seminar on the development of marine products exports in March as part of its efforts to develop Kochi as a hub of perishable cargo export in South India. At present, Saudi Airlines and Deccan 360 were carrying out freight services from here. The airport company was in consultation with the Emirates Airlines to launch its cargo carrier to Kochi.

KOCHI: After years of slumber, the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) has switched over to active mode by completing the first phase of master plan preparation. In the second phase, KITCO will prepare a master plan for the integrated development of the islands to be implemented in the next 20 years.

As part of the first phase the local bodies coming under GIDA will get up to Rs 50 lakh each to implement various projects designed by them.

“The first phase of the project will be submitted before the next general council of GIDA to be held soon. After getting the approval, funds will be disbursed to the local bodies to go ahead with the project which includes road work as well,’’ said District Collector M Beena who is also the secretary of GIDA.

“KITCO will submit the master plan in April, 2010. Once implemented it will be a guideline for the comprehensive development of the islands,’’ Beena said.

The master plan will focus on the requirements of the areas under GIDA for the next 20 years. It will cover 18 important areas of development including infrastructure, resources, transportation, housing and shelter, special problem areas, special attention areas, development and management and integration of various agencies.

The master plan will consist of the present status, future requirement in each area and the projects to be implemented. A land use policy will be formulated as part of the master plan.

The land use plan, which is a part of the land use policy, will lay down clear directions for using land under GIDA. Zonal restrictions will be implemented as part of the plan. Industrial, housing and infrastructure projects will be approved based on zonal restrictions. Once the master plan is implemented suggestions will be invited from the public. After considering the suggestions and objections the master plan will be submitted for state government’s approval.

The project is envisaged to cover all the developmental needs of the areas under GIDA.

KOCHI: After exhausting all its efforts to tame stray dogs, the Kochi Corporation is going to take up a project which will help in finding a solution to the menace in West Kochi. This will give a big respite to the residents of West Kochi who have been facing problems for a long time now with the local body struggling to find a way to deal with issue.

As per the plan, the Kochi Corporation will develop a centre where the stray dogs will be taken and subject to key hole sterilisation surgery, Health Standing Committee Chairman K J Sohan said. A meeting was held here the other day to discuss the matter. Another meeting will be held soon to do more planning on the project, sources said. The local body will spend about `5 lakh to convert an existing building at Chullickal into a centre where the dogs will be sterilised.

The dogs will be kept at the centre where they will be given post operative care. The residents in the area with pet dogs can also take their dogs to the centre for sterilization. They will be kept in the centre for about ten days before dropping them from the location from where they were picked. However, the main concern of the corporation is to complete the modification of the building utilising `5 lakh by the end of March failing which the grant will get cancelled.

The project, which had been cleared by the district planning board and the state planning board had been gathering dust for sometime now. The local body is planning to appoint two veterinary doctors on a contract basis to carry out the operation. The contract period will be for a period of six months, he said. The corporation will have to tie up with an NGO for implementing the project. This will be done by inviting expression of interest, Sohan said. The corporation had been mulling over finding a solution to deal with the increase in the number of stray dogs in the area.

The situation has turned bad as its earlier attempt to take up a similar project failed to bear fruits a couple of years back. Then the dogs were taken to the government veterinary hospital at Mattancherry where doctors were required to carry out the sterilisation surgery. There are cases of domesticated dogs being discarded by the residents once they become old, a resident said.